The Webster Sports Roundup

Webster Men’s soccer still has not lost in conference play this season. The Gorloks made it three wins in a row for the first time in the 2014 season with a 2-1 win on Oct. 9 against Spalding University.

After record-setting wins earlier in the conference schedule, Webster earned the win against the now 8-5 Spalding Eagles team at the St. Louis Soccer Park.

After allowing the first goal of the game in the 29 minute, the Gorloks struck back in the second half. With just under 15 minutes left to play, Mike Wells set up Brendan Shields for his first goal in conference play this season. Then, just two minutes and 20 seconds later, Wells assisted on senior Jacob Stieb’s first goal of the season. The win took Webster’s conference record to 3-0.

Women’s Soccer

The Webster’s women’s soccer team continued their high scoring success in conference play with a win against Spalding University on Oct. 9.

After a dominant first half where Webster out-shot Spalding 9-0, Webster led by just one goal. But in the second half, Webster scored early and often. Two minutes into the second half, Ashley Mess scored her second goal of the season. Just 20 minutes later, Webster had a commanding 5-0 lead. The Gorloks tacked on two more goals to finish the scoring.

Webster has now outscored their opponents 25-0 in conference play.

Men’s Cross Country

For the first time in program history, Webster University’s men’s Cross Country team finished first in a team event. The Principia College Invitational on Oct. 11, was an 8,000 meter event, the same distance they will be running for both the conference and national championships.

Led once again by senior Jason Hickson, Webster finished with 11 of the top 20 runners in the four-team event. Webster beat out reigning conference champion Principia College, and two non-conference foes, Wisconsin Lutheran College and Kaskaskia College.

Returning for the race was David Lambus. Lambus raced for the first time since suffering a stress reaction in his fibula. Coach Dan Graber said Lambus is one of the team’s most talented runners.

The next race for the men’s cross country team is the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference(SLIAC) Championship on Nov. 1.

Women’s Cross Country

The women’s cross country team did not fare as well as the men’s team at the Principia College Invitational, finishing third of five teams.

The team was led by Valerie Martin, who finished third. The race marked Martin’s third top-20 finish of the season. Holly Goerben(9), Lauren Hoover(13) and Meghan Illig(15) also posted top-20 finishes in the 6,000 meter race. Webster finished behind conference foe Principia College and non-conference opponent Missouri Baptist University, while defeating Wisconsin Lutheran College and Kaskaskia College.

The next race for Webster is the 6,000 meter SLIAC Championship on Nov. 11.

Women’s Volleyball

The Women’s Volleyball team moved to 13-8 with a 4 match win streak.

The streak started with two wins over Principia College and Iowa Wesleyan College on Senior Day, Oct. 4. The Gorloks continued the streak with 3-0 sweeps of Blackburn College and Eureka College on Oct. 7 and 10 respectively.

The team was led by Sam Kersting, who led the team in kill in three of the four games and was named SLIAC player of the week for women’s volleyball for the week of Oct. 6-12.

You can read more about the team here: http://websterjournal.com/2014/10/14/senior-volleyball-players-look-to-close-out-careers-on-a-high-note/

Basketball

Both the men’s and women’s teams are under a month away from the start of their seasons, but the men’s team is already looking at high expectations.

According to the Webster Athletics website, DIII News picked the Men’s basketball team to win the SLIAC this season. Webster took home the championship last season after beating regular season champion Spalding College. With six seniors returning from last season’s championship season, including their top three scorers and top three rebounders, the Gorloks will look to build on last season’s 20-8 record.

The Women’s team will not be as lucky. Last year’s top scorer and rebounder Courtney Pursley graduated, but they will return second leading scorer and rebounder Cassie Endicott. The 6-foot-1-inch senior will lead a squad comprised almost entirely of underclasswomen, with eight juniors, three sophmores and seven freshmen.